Pharmacists and community health workers improve medication-related process outcomes among Cambodian Americans with depression and risk for diabetes

Authors: Christina M Polomoff, Angela Bermudez-Millan, Thomas Buckley, Orfeu M Buxton, Richard Feinn, Sengly Kong, Theanvy Kuoch, Mackenzie Lim, Mary Scully, Julie Wagner

This article used data from DREAM, a randomized control trial, to compare medication adherence, medication barriers, and health beliefs among Cambodian Americans. The DREAM trial, or the Diabetes Risk Reduction through Eat, Walk, Sleep and Medication Management, aimed to reduce risk of developing type II diabetes among Cambodian Americans with depression. Three treatment groups were designed. The first group received a lifestyle intervention called Eat, Walk, Sleep (EWS) implemented by CHWs. The second group received EWS along with Medication Therapy Management (MTM). The final treatment group received only social services. Overall, researchers found that participants in all treatment arms reported reduced barriers to taking medication. However, the EWS + MTM group showed the greatest increase in medication adherence and drug therapy problem resolution. The results of this study suggest that CHWs may be a valuable component in multifaceted interventions to improve medication-related outcomes, particularly among disadvantaged populations.